Meet the coaches

It’s nearly time to start looking at the next schedule for the sports clubs that Abbotswood makes available to its pupils each term. Our great range of clubs are supported by our two full time sports coaches, we thought you might be interested to learn a little more about them!

Mr Morgan, a big fan of American Football, Rugby and Baseball, has a Bachelor of Science degree in combined sciences, a UKCC Level 2 in rugby and UKCC multi skills.

Above the desk in Mr Morgan's office hangs a picture of Vince Lombardi (American Footballer and Coach) with the quote “Practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect”, Lombardi is Mr Morgan’s sporting hero, and although he was eventually extremely successful it took him a long time to get there. Through persistence and a love for coaching/teaching he eventually got the job he loved, something Mr Morgan can really identify with.

Mr Morgan's dedication to sport saw him scoring two try's in the East of Scotland bowl final (when he should have been tucked up in bed with the flu). In this last year he went home to Scotland to witness 7 players that he coached from their first year at high school till they played under 18's ( 6 years) lift the Scottish Shield with his former team. A very proud moment for him.

Mr Morgan’s love for American sports stems from his time working in New York and would you believe he is apparently a dab hand in the kitchen too! When we asked him why sport matters Mr Morgan told us:

“Apart from the obvious health benefits; It’s the life lessons… it teaches people the benefits of self-discipline, team work, mutual respect and fair play and to develop a way to channel their energy, competitiveness and aggression in a personally and socially beneficial way. It can bring unity to communities and countries at large through the passionate support of sporting events. It can provide opportunities to people which may not have been available without sport! Most of all its exciting and fun, it's hard to deny the amount of pleasure sport brings to the world.”

Our Mr Perry also has an award in coaching studies (level 2), Multi skills development (level 2), A level in PE, FA football coaching (level 1) and has attended CPD's for netball, tennis, cricket, tag rugby and gymnastics.

He thoroughly enjoys cricket so has plenty to talk to our Head Mr Moore about as he is also a big cricket fan, when it comes to teaching his favourite is Athletics.

Mr Perry’s sporting heroes include Andrew Flintoff and David Beckham. Bobby Charlton once said “Beckham is unusual. He was desperate to be a footballer. His mind was made up when he was nine or ten. Many kids think that it's beyond them.” That’s Year 5 or 6 when he made that conscious decision to make football his life and his commitment to practice, practice, practice saw him go on to succeed at the highest level.

In 2010/11 Mr Perry travelled around Australia following the ashes when England won. He continues to play cricket for Calmore, enjoys golf and is involved with the Eastleigh Under 18s Football Club coaching.

Asked about why sport matters, Mr Perry told us that he has had a couple of outstanding sports teachers, who motivated and inspired him to attempt as many sports as were available to him. “Every child has potential, and it is down to us to provide the opportunity to fulfil this. Regular practise will lead to massive improvement, regardless of the activity. We must make sport an enjoyable experience.”